All American

As we’re beginning to see with this list, Purdue likes to hide all of their most interesting things just under our noses. And by noses, I mean feet, as a lot of these secrets seem to be underground. Purdue’s best food is no exception. Deep underneath the northeast corner of Cary Quad lies the All American Dining Court, home of what may be the most delicious steaks and lobsters in all of West Lafayette. Not that any of us would know, of course, because as far as I’m aware, none of us are on the university’s intercollegiate football or basketball teams.

                                               Photo taken from schooldesigns.com

The room the dining court occupies was originally designed to be used as a media room for coaches. They could hold and broadcast press conferences here, as well as broadcast things for television and radio shows in the l0cal area. Around the turn of the century, university decided they didn’t need the room for those purposes anymore, so they tore out the walls, built a kitchen, installed a modern HVAC system, and opened a dining court. And by “opened,” I mean opened to the sports teams mentioned above. As part of these teams’ athletes’ training regimens, they are required to eat at the All American Dining Court some number of times per week, where their coaches can be sure they will receive both a healthy and hearty meal.

Unfortunately, providing steaks to everyone who walks in the door could become expensive, so the court is closed to most students – even other athletes that aren’t on the football team or either men’s or women’s basketball team. That said, that doesn’t mean you have no hope of seeing it! You can always walk by and look in the door. That might be pretty boring, but you could do it. Alternatively, the dining court has been known to open its doors to the public for special occasions like Valentine’s Day. If you really want to see the inside, all you have to do is be lucky enough to get reservations the next time that opportunity rolls around and find a date so they don’t accuse you of just coming for the steak. That sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?